Men and women are different species which are created for various reasons. For many years, the society had already created norms that are applied to realize the duties and responsibilities of each gender. For many years, men and women are bind to the norms of the society due to the various types of societal norms. More so, during the earlier eras of earlier cultures in the United States there are present literatures which help the current era to understand the modern society. One of these literatures is “The Yellow Paper” which was written by Charlotte Perkins Gillman.

The short story which was written in 1892 was a short story which narrates the three month life of a patient which was put in to a rest cure. A rest cure was a technique usually exercised with women who were psychologically problematic. Moreover, the story provides a clear feminist perception of mental health, family life and the likes.

In main character had experienced post partum disease which is often experienced by women who just gave birth. Due to her situation, the main character was forced to adapt the rest cure to relieve her from her sickness. As part of the process being required for rest cure, it is very important that the patient must lose the connection to the real world.

The patient should not hold a pen, explore the world outside the bedroom, work or mingle with friends. Hence, the patient is extensively restricted to do any type of activity that would tire her. In addition to this, women need to be locked in a room the whole day. More so, there is a little time given for women to have the freedom to move around.

Thus, there is a need for the patient to sleep and do nothing. As an effect to the patient, it is often that women became much more disturbed for they are left without anything to do. Therefore, women are tortured for they are unable to attain an active life style. At the same time, women are not given any responsibility in the house or any type of work as much as possible.

Furthermore women are given the limitation of having a normal life together with her family. More so, a woman becomes worthless unless given the rest cure method which is known to be the most effective process during such time (Gillman 71-83).

In viewing from a feminist perspective, it is very clear that women desire freedom due to the societal norms. Women wanted to have equity with men in terms of opportunities. More so, women wanted to have the same educational attainment and the ability to have gain money for their family and needs.

Therefore, there is a need for women to feel that they are also important entities in the community not only due to their social responsibility but also in the form of personal participation in certain issues in the society. On the other had, men are naturally hierarchic due to their gender.

Men often have to use their power and exercise their knowledge most especially their education. Furthermore, as men are known to be physically stronger than women they are immediately seen as powerful and wise. Therefore, they are provided the liberty to attain education, property and to have command over women (Allen 37).

Furthermore, the story presents the limitations given to women during such time. As the patient was the wife of a physician taking action of her post partum disease, she was over powered by her husband. Her voice did not seem to have importance for the process of medication and healing.

It is clear that men, due to their hierarchy, are in need to attain control over women most especially those that are related to them. Due to the norms of the society, it is very clear that men have a stronger voice over women. Moreover, women are left with little say regarding important subjects such as their own welfare, interest and such. Therefore, men had the capability to state their view and their beliefs while undermining the capability of women to create decisions for themselves and their welfare (Allen 40).

In the story of “The Yellow Wallpaper” is a clear symbolism of the hierarchy of men towards women. The yellow wallpaper provides the symbol of how women are feeling caused by the overpowering norms of the society (Gillman, 74). As the main character had narrated in the short story that the wallpaper is an irritating staple in the room for it has a foul smell and a despicable color.

As the story progressed, the narrator was slowly shedding the wallpaper. Furthermore, the narrator mentioned that there are women within the wallpaper that lives within it. Hence, the narrator felt that she had to free them and see how these women became free.

Moreover, the narrator of the story became free after ripping off the wallpaper in the room. The wallpaper is the barrier in which the narrator needed to take away in order for her attains her own personality and freedom. Due to the resistance of the main character and the effect of the rest cure, she had a psychological disorder. The lack of freedom in decision making as well as in physical activity equated to the lack of psychological control or madness.

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